Tracking the footsteps of Francisella tularensis: Bacteriological and serological monitoring in epidemic areas in Ankara

The study aimed to detect Francisella tularensis (F. tularensis) in water samples and to investigate the seroreactivity of sheep to tularemia in endemic areas where human tularemia cases have been reported in Ankara, Turkey. For the isolation of F. tularensis, 50 water samples were collected from ru...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases microbiology and infectious diseases, 2023-01, Vol.92, p.101921-101921, Article 101921
Main Authors: Yeni, Derya Karataş, Büyük, Fatih, Malal, Mehmet Engin, Shah, M.Salahuddin, Ashraf, Asma
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
antibodies
benzylpenicillin
blood
Culture
cycloheximide
Disease Outbreaks
Epidemics
Francisella tularensis
Humans
MAT
microbiology
Serology
Sheep
Sheep Diseases - epidemiology
Tularemia
Tularemia - epidemiology
Tularemia - veterinary
Water
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The study aimed to detect Francisella tularensis (F. tularensis) in water samples and to investigate the seroreactivity of sheep to tularemia in endemic areas where human tularemia cases have been reported in Ankara, Turkey. For the isolation of F. tularensis, 50 water samples were collected from rural areas of 5 regions of Ankara (Turkey) and selectively cultured on Francis medium supplemented with 8–9 % sheep blood and antibiotics (100 IU/ml penicillin G, 100 mg/L cycloheximide, 80,000 U/L polymixin B). No F. tularensis isolate was cultivated from the water samples. To determine the seroreactivity of sheep to tularemia, 1006 sheep blood samples were collected from the regions, where human tularemia is endemic. A microagglutination test (MAT) identified significant antibody titers, ranging from 1/20–1/640 in 181 (17.99 %) of the investigated sheep sera. Further investigation is required in order to evaluate and confirm a possible epidemiologic relationship between human outbreaks and probable role of sheep or other sources. •In this study, detection of the presence of the agent in possible reservoirs in hot spots for the disease tularemia.•Although culture positivity could not be obtained from water, seroreactivity was detected in sheep.•Significant antibody titer (17.99 %) was found by the microagglutination test.•Simultaneous sampling is needed from both end hosts and reservoirs at a time of an outbreak.
ISSN:0147-9571
1878-1667
DOI:10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101921